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UEL’s Institute of Health and Human Development a partner in £9.46m Well London programme

Friday 18 May 2007

The Institute of Health and Human Development at the University of East London (UEL) will research and evaluate the impacts of an innovative five-year programme that works with local people to transform health in some twenty of London’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Well London, developed by a unique alliance of seven partners including UEL, was granted a total of £9.46m from the BIG’s £164m Well-being programme, it was announced today.

The Well London Alliance comprises the London Health Commission, Central YMCA, Groundwork London, London Sustainability Exchange, Arts Council England, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and the University of East London.

The Well London programme will take a rigorous approach to research and evaluation. Professor Adrian Renton of UEL’s Institute of Health and Human Development, and his team have developed a unique framework that will demonstrate in a robust way the impact of the interventions. This is the first time that this approach has been used at a citywide scale.

Professor Adrian Renton said: “As a society, we are inundated with health promotion campaigns and there are a plethora of health interventions, but without properly controlled research and evaluation, it is very difficult to establish how successful any of them actually are. This will be the first time that a controlled evaluation framework is built into the programme and this means we will be able to monitor the various projects and identify what works and what doesn’t work in real communities.”

The Well London programme will invest in local community-led projects promoting physical activity for well-being and positive mental health, as well as encouraging healthy eating and improving London’s open spaces. The programme will encourage new ways of working on these issues through culture and tradition.

Communities will decide for themselves how the Well London programme money is to be spent, assessing their own requirements and priorities. Well London will work with them to develop creative projects that meet their needs and aspirations. The partnership aims to support local groups and people and join-up current initiatives, developing skills, confidence, programmes and networks to leave a lasting health legacy.

The Well London programme will invest in local community-led projects promoting physical activity for wellbeing and positive mental health, as well as encouraging healthy eating and improving London’s open spaces.

Jennette Arnold, London Health Commission chair said “I’m really excited that Well London has been awarded this BIG grant. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to deliver real, long-term health benefits change for people living in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. In our groundbreaking approach we will work in partnership with Londoners at the very local level to develop community-led projects that will improve mental and physical health and well-being. We will work with them in partnership with local organisations and groups. Now we can start working with local people and bring on board new partners to

Further information: http://www.uel.ac.uk/ihhd or http://www.londonshealth.gov.uk/well_london.htm

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For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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